The Institute for Spirituality and Health Honors Novo Nordisk And Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation At 70th Anniversary Celebration
NEWS RELEASE
HOUSTON, Texas (May 20, 2025) – The Institute for Spirituality and Health, a founding member of the Texas Medical Center, is celebrating its 70th anniversary year as an independent, interfaith resource for Houstonians. Institute leaders welcomed more than 250 special guests for the 70th Anniversary Platinum Jubilee at the TMC3 Helix Park. This event, which honored the Institute’s rare and enduring legacy of integrating spirituality with health and healing, set the stage for a full year of programming, innovation, and community connection.
In celebration of this milestone, the Institute received two very special letters of commendation: one from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the other from Houston Mayor Pro Tem and District K City Council Member for the Texas Medical Center, Martha Castex-Tatum. The Institute remains steadfast to its mission: to enhance well-being by exploring the connection between spirituality and health. Institute leaders and supporters are committed to ensuring that the next 70 years of the Institute’s work will be as community-focused, compassionate, and innovative as the last.
The celebration was emceed by Houston media personality Lisa Malosky, and featured reflective tributes, powerful testimonies, and special musical performances. Dr. Lisa Miller, New York Times bestselling author and adjunct faculty member of the Institute, was the featured speaker and shared fascinating insights on human development.
Board Chair, Dr. Mary Katharine Roff, welcomed guests and delivered a heartfelt message: “The Institute has nurtured a powerful healing community for 70 years. Through our programs, we are training healthcare professionals and lay leaders to create environments where every person feels seen, supported, and spiritually cared for. The ripple effect of that love and care has already touched thousands of lives—and I believe it will reach thousands more in the decades to come. Tonight is not just a celebration of the past, but a promise for the future.”
Stuart Nelson, president and CEO of the Institute, recognized and honored two long-term collaborators:
Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company, for its decade-long collaboration with the Institute. Together, they have shaped Cities for Better Health – Houston, a groundbreaking model of faith-centered, community-rooted public health. Representatives from Novo Nordisk traveled to Houston for the occasion, underscoring the global relevance of this Houston-based initiative.
The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation for its historic $2 million legacy gift, which established the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair—the first endowed chair in the Institute’s 70-year history. Stuart Nelson, president and chief executive officer of the Institute, has been appointed the inaugural Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair. This generous gift reinforces a multi-generational relationship between the Institute and The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation that is rooted in shared values and visionary philanthropy.
“What makes the Institute so rare and enduring is its unwavering commitment to the spiritual dimension of health across all faiths, without allegiance to any single religious tradition,” commented Nelson. “In a world where healthcare and culture are constantly shifting, the Institute for Spirituality and Health remains a steady pillar – independent, interfaith, and deeply rooted in the belief that every person’s inner life matters. There is no other institution like this in the world, and we are proud to carry this mission forward for generations to come.”
Guests enjoyed performances by the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston; the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Libi Lebe; and acclaimed vocalist L. Wayne Ashley, accompanied by accomplished jazz pianist Luke Brinkley. The event concluded with a heartwarming performance by the Houston Children’s Chorus, whose voices reminded all present of the Institute’s commitment to nurturing generations with values of compassion, connection, and well-being.
The Institute also unveiled its 70th anniversary commemorative book, A Light Through the Decades, which chronicles its pioneering contributions to the Texas Medical Center and around the world. The publication features powerful stories of servant leadership, the integration of spirituality in patient care, and the Institute’s influence on medical ethics and professional education. It also showcases the work of the Institute’s four Centers of Excellence and outlines a clear vision for its continued impact in the years to come.
Guests at the event donated seventy-five floral arrangements to local nursing homes and private care facilities by the Institute’s Interfaith Spiritual Care Coalition volunteers.
The Institute extends heartfelt thanks to the following supporters, whose generosity makes its work possible: Joe D. Robinson, The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation; Novo Nordisk Inc.; The Kanaly Foundation; Drs. Mary Katharine and John H. Roff III; Bonnie Weekley; Dr. Basem Hamid and Mannal Hussain; The Luke Church; Mary and Temple Webber; Strake Foundation; Al Amado and Justin Haynes; Houston Methodist; Dr. James W. and Nancy Lomax; Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein; Konjin Gaelyn Godwin; Lex Gillan and Cathy Nunnally; Maarit and Russ Harp; and The Tellepsen Family.
“The Institute’s 70th Anniversary is far from over. A year-long series of events, programs, and collaborative efforts will continue through next May. In early 2026, the Institute will host the world-renowned Conference on Medicine and Religion in Houston, bringing together global thought leaders in medical humanities at the intersection of faith, science, and care. It’s really exciting to see this conference continue to flourish and for the Institute to host so many leading medical institutions right here in the Texas Medical Center,” said Leah Adams Pruit, vice president of engagement at the Institute.
To learn more, support the Institute, or explore ways to get involved, visit www.spiritualityandhealth.org.
About the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
The Institute for Spirituality and Health is an independent, interfaith organization that has championed whole-person care since its founding in 1955. A founding member of the Texas Medical Center, the Institute has become a global leader at the intersection of spirituality, health, and community well-being. For seven decades, it has trained and empowered healthcare professionals, faith leaders, and community members to integrate spiritual care into health settings.
The Institute for Spirituality and Health's mission is to enhance well-being by exploring the relationship between spirituality and health. It advances this mission through education, research, and direct service programs, guided by its four centers of excellence: the Rabbi Samuel E. Karff Center for Healthcare Professionals, the Center for Body, Spirit, and Mind, the Center for End-of-Life and Aging, and the Center for Faith and Public Health.
For more information about the Institute, visit https://www.spiritualityandhealth.org/.
Media Contacts:
Laura Pennino, Senior PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 713-419-1776 mobile | lp@penninoandpartners.com
MaKlay Simon, PR Consultant for The Institute for Spirituality and Health
281-286-9398 office | 325-262-1862 mobile | maklay@penninoandpartners.com